Rolling roads to startThe weather forecast called for sunshine, but I woke up to find a very gray sky and continued cool temperatures. I slathered myself with sunscreen anyway, and the sun decided to join the party partway through the morning. First things first though - in spite of what seemed like a very big dinner last night, I woke up ready to eat. (That wasn't too much of a surprise, even though I thought I overdid it a bit when I finished that ice-cream topped brownie. Of course I didn't - aren't you always ready to eat when you're touring?) I headed down to breakfast, ordered oatmeal and a muffin, and had a good chat with my hostess. Peter and Betty (my cyclist friends from last night) joined me after a bit. Good breakfast, good conversation, and then our bicycles took off in opposite directions.
Changing, hilly ups and downs
What happened to flat?
No, that's not meant to be a complaint but a statement of fact!
It was a day of layers, and of shedding layers too. It was pretty cool when I started out, and the sky was still an overwhelming shade of gray. Arm warmers, leg warmers, and a wind vest were in order at the start of my ride, but I was able to shed them a short eight miles down the road. I stopped at a beautiful roadside and bayside park where I met Russ & Cheryl who live outside of Annapolis Royal, my destination for today. When they heard that I was planning to spend two nights there so that I could explore the area a bit, they suggested riding down Granville Road to Victoria Beach, where there is a good view of Digby Gut. They also gave me their address and invited me to stop by for something to drink and some more conversation if I ride past their house tomorrow. Meetings like that one are one of the many reasons that I really like wandering on my bike.
As I headed back out of the park, I saw a deer just standing in the middle of a grassy area. I was far enough away that I didn't startle her. I was able to quietly lean my bike up against a tree and grab my camera. I took a picture, walked a little closer, took another picture, walked a little... Then a car drove down the road and startled the deer. She started bounding across the field, and my camera kept following. I hope I have a decent picture of her run. But even if there isn't a good picture of this beautiful animal in my camera, there is one in my mind.
Yesterday was truly rolling, but the rolls in the road today felt like real hills to me. They graduated from rollers to hills as I passed Digby, during the part of the ride where routes 1 (the back road) and route 101 (more of a high-speed road, two lanes changing to three to add passing lanes on the uphill side of the road) joined together for a while. The hills never stopped until I ended my day at my home for the night. And the only reason the hills stopped is because I stopped riding. (Yes Kate, you were absolutely right to tell me that Nova Scotia is hilly!)
From Weymouth to just before Digby I could still see the water. Beyond there it spent quite a bit of time hiding from me. Trees crowded closer to the road, still mostly green but with an occasional splash or red or orange. As I rolled closer to Annapolis Royal the scenery changed to farmlands, and I started to see water again. I have to admit that the afternoon ride reminded me of riding near home. My camera pulled me off the road many times today, including once to take a picture of a spider. Let's see, I think (I hope) I captured some spiderwebs along the road to Cape Forchu Light on Thursday, and now I hope that my image of a very interesting black and yellow spider perched on a plant is in focus.
I stopped at the visitor center outside of Annapolis Royal to get some assistance in finding a home for the night. My requirements are simple - a nice B&B for me, with a safe sheltered spot for my bike. I found both at Hillsdale House, a beautiful inn-style B&B with very friendly hosts (Paul & Val). I spent some time this afternoon talking with them, and I'm sure that I'll be picking their brains tomorrow about where I should ride - both tomorrow and on the continuation of my trip. Apparently the roads heading to the east are a repeat of today, hilly, and with the views sheltered by trees. Right now I can't tell you which direction I'll be heading when I finally take off from Annapolis Royal; you're just going to have to keep reading if you're curious.
After settling in I wandered over to the Historic Gardens, just a short distance down the road. And yes, I was definitely accompanied by my camera. I don't have the macro lens for my SLR with me, but I still managed to take quite a few pictures of the flowers. I'm sure that no one is surprised by that. I'm so glad that I'm shooting digital photos and don't have to pay to develop any (real) film. Thinking back to my travels in the now distant past when I was still using film cameras, I know that I didn't take anywhere near as many photos as I have grown into taking in today's digital world.
It was another good food night. Dinner was at the Garrison House, a B&B down the road that also has a restaurant. My stomach decided on one of today's specials - shrimp and scallops in a curry sauce. Very nice - fresh seafood, but with an Asian flavor influence.
Today was a good people day, a good riding day, and an awesome weather day. The sun and cloudless blue sky were both welcome additions. And now it's time to dream of tomorrow...
